Alpha Gravity Release Clamp Base First Time Experience

[darklore009]

After my good faithful spring clamp base on my Alpha Pioneer DC Plus both gave up on me, I decided to invest in the gravity release clamps as I had an eye on them. I read through numerous of threads about them and shared their opinion on them. After biting the bullet, I ordered the clamps from Greg's website and got them pretty quickly to my house.. Both came in a old Alpha overgrip box to contain them. When I got my hands on them, dam they were much heavier than the standard clamp bases. The base itself is much bigger than standard too.

Installing them is somewhat a breeze, its a bit tricky to get the screws aligned together so they would screwed in properly. Both gravity release clamps are installed and I found an old racket to try these out with. After I pulled tension on a string and went to clamp it, I notice it the base was moving along with it; despite I adjusted the clamps to grip the strings firmly. I realized the screws on the button has to be super tight so it can hold the string in place. I got the screw drivers again and tightened it again. I repulled the string and it showed better results. Securing the clamp is much smoother than standard clamp bases.

Here comes a hiccup as a first time user, when I try to release the clamp as normal, the clamp wont come down at all that well. This could be because the string is under tension and the clamp is going along with it. I didnt want to force the clamp down to add abrasion marks on the string, luckly there's an option to press a button that releases the clamp as a whole. I will have to spent more time to get used to this mechanic, as I really want to utilize the gravity release mechanic since its built for that reason.

Is this a clamp something you should go after to be added to your machine ASAP? My answer would be no as it isnt ground breaking at all as it wont make you a better stringer. The bells and whistles are there if you want the same experience from the high end machine such as Alpha Ghost, Prince P7000, or any machine that has the gravity release mechanism. Otherwise, its better off going with the standard spring clamp base if your coming from that. I only bought it because I'm curious on how it would affect my string technique.

Picture will be added later

 

[darklore009]

 

[SavvyStringer]

Press the button on the gravity release then release the top of the clamp that is actually on the strings if you're worried about damaging the string. I typically only do this with gut or a soft multi.

 

[struggle]

Which clamps are these?

 

[darklore009]

-Delete-

 

[Irvin]

Updated the post #2 with image of the clamp base

Access denied

 

[darklore009]

Access denied

Image is fixed now.

 

[am1899]

Which clamps are these?

Looks like the Alpha Hybrid 5 tooth clamp, coupled with Alpha gravity release clamp bases.

 

[am1899]

OP - just to clarify - is it your observation that when you release the clamp first (not the base), that the clamp does not fall down (either at all, or without sufficient force) to release the clamp base? If so, this same outcome happens to me sometimes on a Baiardo I use at work. I’m not saying I like that, nor that it is necessarily “normal.” But IME and FWIW, the gravity release function isn’t perfect, even on a flagship machine like the Baiardo.

Me personally, I rarely use the feature anyway - I’ve gotten into the habit of releasing the base first, no matter what. This way any remote chance of damaging the string (by releasing the clamp first) is eliminated. But maybe if the gravity release function worked more consistently, I’d put it to more use.

Regardless, thanks for your observations as they give me significant pause to shell out the extra money to upgrade to gravity release bases, when my current clamp bases finally bite the dust.

 

[darklore009]

OP - just to clarify - is it your observation that when you release the clamp first (not the base), that the clamp does not fall down (either at all, or without sufficient force) to release the clamp base? If so, this same outcome happens to me sometimes on a Baiardo I use at work. I’m not saying I like that, nor that it is necessarily “normal.” But IME and FWIW, the gravity release function isn’t perfect, even on a flagship machine like the Baiardo.

Me personally, I rarely use the feature anyway - I’ve gotten into the habit of releasing the base first, no matter what. This way any remote chance of damaging the string (by releasing the clamp first) is eliminated. But maybe if the gravity release function worked more consistently, I’d put it to more use.

Regardless, thanks for your observations as they give me significant pause to shell out the extra money to upgrade to gravity release bases, when my current clamp bases finally bite the dust.

Yes, I do release the clamp first after tensioning the string. The clamp is still under pressure as the string is pressed against it, will need some force to push the clamp down to make the "gravity" function work as a whole. If I press the button, the clamp comes off easily. I will have to string more rackets to see if I want to force the clamp down to make it work, or use the button method. The one positive I appreciate from this type of clamp base is locking it in place is VERY SMOOTH as compared to my old one. The regular clamp will require some adjustment overtime as the spring can loose its tension. This one I dont think you have to adjust it. (I could be wrong about this since I havent seen it dissembled to see how it works).

 

[am1899]

Yes, I do release the clamp first after tensioning the string. The clamp is still under pressure as the string is pressed against it, will need some force to push the clamp down to make the "gravity" function work as a whole. If I press the button, the clamp comes off easily. I will have to string more rackets to see if I want to force the clamp down to make it work, or use the button method. The one positive I appreciate from this type of clamp base is locking it in place is VERY SMOOTH as compared to my old one. The regular clamp will require some adjustment overtime as the spring can loose its tension. This one I dont think you have to adjust it. (I could be wrong about this since I havent seen it dissembled to see how it works).

Yup, sounds like the same thing I’ve run into on the Baiardo. I personally wouldn’t bother forcing the clamp down in that situation - just press the button on the base.

As best I can remember, the gravity release function on the Baiardo tends to work best when the clamp in question is closer to the center of the racquet. When the clamp is closer to the outer edges of the racquet (outside mains, top or bottom couple crosses), it doesn’t seem to work as consistently.

 

[darklore009]

I'll give that a go for one junk racket that I can string with. I'll try various of methods to find how to make the gravity release go down smoothly. I do experience the same thing too when putting the clamps next to the edge of the frame, its difficult to handle. Not like I will place the clamps roughly at the center of the racket, as it isnt how stringers are taught to do.

 

[am1899]

In retrospect, “center of the racquet” was a bit vague if not outright misleading on my part, sorry. I was referring to the first 4-6 mains on either side, starting from the center...and for crosses pretty much anything that isn’t at or near the top or bottom of the hoop.

 

[mad dog1]

OP - just to clarify - is it your observation that when you release the clamp first (not the base), that the clamp does not fall down (either at all, or without sufficient force) to release the clamp base? If so, this same outcome happens to me sometimes on a Baiardo I use at work. I’m not saying I like that, nor that it is necessarily “normal.” But IME and FWIW, the gravity release function isn’t perfect, even on a flagship machine like the Baiardo.

Me personally, I rarely use the feature anyway - I’ve gotten into the habit of releasing the base first, no matter what. This way any remote chance of damaging the string (by releasing the clamp first) is eliminated. But maybe if the gravity release function worked more consistently, I’d put it to more use.

Regardless, thanks for your observations as they give me significant pause to shell out the extra money to upgrade to gravity release bases, when my current clamp bases finally bite the dust.

Yeah, gravity release clamps on the Sensor don’t always release automatically either.

 

[LOBALOT]

It happens when I string every once and a while as well. I just think the clamp doesn't quite fully open to release from the string. It really doesn't bother me much as I simply open the rest of the way. I think the gravity release clamps are fantastic and am so used to them now I can't imaging what it would be like to reach down and twist the base to release it/undo the clamp.

 

[ey039524]

I'm bumping this thread bc I just bought the gravity release bases for my alpha revo/wise machine, mainly for the push button release. I'm using them w the stock 5 tooth clamps.

Like others have mentioned, the gravity release only works when the there is no tension on the clamp from the string when you release the clamp, so I'm pushing the button most of the time.

I like the click to lock lever the most. The stock bases don't click, but just gradually get tighter as you pull the lever.

To me, it was worth the $200 upgrade.

 

[LOBALOT]

I'm bumping this thread bc I just bought the gravity release bases for my alpha revo/wise machine, mainly for the push button release. I'm using them w the stock 5 tooth clamps.

Like others have mentioned, the gravity release only works when the there is no tension on the clamp from the string when you release the clamp, so I'm pushing the button most of the time.

I like the click to lock lever the most. The stock bases don't click, but just gradually get tighter as you pull the lever.

To me, it was worth the $200 upgrade.

You need to understand how the gravity release clamps work and how to use them. No, the clamp is not going to fall off the string when you press the button every time and it doesn't mater. You have to ask yourself (Other than the outside mains and top and bottom crosses) what is the next thing I am doing after I release the clamp?

At least for me, I am sliding the clamp to the next string and clamping on it. If that is the case it is more efficient to press the button to release the clamp from the string and then grab the lever on the top of the clamp and use it to slide the clamp to the next position and as your hand is already on the lever clamp down on the next string and then reach down and lock the base.

No the clamp is not going to drop off the string every time and it doesn't mater as you will be in the habit of reaching up to the lever after pressing the button your hand will be there already. The efficiency is gained by not having to twist the clamp base to release it and then lift up on the lever to release the clamp from the string (2 awkward and timely steps) vs. pressing the button and achieving 2 steps with one push of the button.

If you get in this habit you will see you will fly through a racquet and understand the benefit of the quick release button.

I think people are getting hung up with the word "gravity" and thinking that this means the clamp will fall when "gravity" is the mechanism used to open the clamp and that is what is meant.

 

[brownbearfalling]

Well said lobalot. I’m not sure when I developed this habit but I now use both hands when operating the clamps. One hand for the string clamp and one for the base. My sequence is open the string clamp, release the base, then pull down the string clamp and move to the next string. I think I’ve strung on too many different machines to get into the habit of the gravity release.

OP: I realized that this post is from 2019 but if you do come across this again: the gravity release is just a lever that gets triggered when the string clamps falls on it. The reality is that the clamps stick on the strings when installing crosses. So to use the gravity function you would open the string clamps and give it a little tug to free it from the strings. That would allow the clamp to fall then release the base.